PONTYPOOl'S objective in their last five games is clear - to win them all and hope Aberavon slip to hand them the First Division title.

Aberavon have shown no signs of faltering so far with 20 league wins in a row. Both sides have similar run-ins, Aberavon facing Whitland away on Saturday, then travel to Tondu and struggling Bonymaen and Dunvant at home with Pontypool facing Blackwood at home tomorrow, Bedwas away and Tondu, Whitland and Bonymaen at home.

But Pontypool team manager Tony Clarke said: "We are not looking at Aberavon's fixtures. We have to win our last five, keep the pressure on them and hope they crack. "It won't be easy for them at Whitland on Saturday. They may not like the way Whitland go about things and Whitland will be trying really hard (after a run of five wins and a draw in their last six games).

But Blackwood are no pushovers for Pontypool. "I think it will be a hard battle up front," said Clarke. "They'll try to take us on there and the first 20 minutes will be crucial with a battle for supremacy.

"Everything goes by the board with a Gwent derby, even if it's top against the bottom, and there are a lot of such clashes in our division.

"We've just got to keep plugging on, keep our heads in gear and get as many wins as we can. I don't think the title race is over yet."

Blackwood's victory over Tondu in their last match was only their second this season against a side above them in the table and now they have got the taste they aim to continue the trend in their remaining games.

"Three of our last four games are against sides above us in the table," said coach Mark Thomas.

"If we are to finish in the top half and set a platform for next season these are the sides we have to beat and that's our aim.

"It will be very tough at Pontypool, we know that. Although they have suffered a couple of surprise home defeats they usually lift their game against other Gwent sides. "But nevertheless we will go there with confidence. We will wear the underdogs tag, and that suits us. All the pressure is on Pontypool.

"We will have a few youngsters playing at Pontypool Park for the first time and I will just tell them to go out and enjoy themselves. If we play to our potential we can be in the game all the way through."

David Smith (hamstring twinge) and Manu Tuipulotu (hand injury) are out of the Pontypool line-up.

Blackwood leave a centre position open as they are not sure if Jagger To'o is available before flying home to New Zealand.

Pontypool: S Lawrence, L Woodard, S John, J Hawker, J Griffin, B Hayward, N Lloyd (from) A Phillips, G Gunter, L Jones, C Thomas, L Mustoe, L Murray, G Taylor, M Powell, K Faletau, J Sulway, S Waldron, A Howarth, M Jones. Replacements: G Jenkins, B Jeffries, C Landry plus four others. Kick-off 2.30pm. Meet ground 12.45pm. Blackwood: D Brown, S Rees, AN Other, D Morris, G Rees, C Lay, O Jones, J Price, A Peacock, P Harriman, D Hillman, M Tucker, J Powell, L Hamer, J Sims. Replacements from rest of squad.